High surface area RuO2/carbon aerogel composites for high energy density supercapacitor electrodes.

The deposition of hydrous ruthenium dioxide onto carbon surfaces has been studied as a method for developing pseudocapacitive effects in electrochemical capacitor electrodes. This paper discusses electrodeposition and chemical vapor impregnation of RuO2 onto nonporous polycrystalline graphite and high surface area, low density carbon aerogels as a method of increasing the energy storage capabilities of these materials. The relationships between preparation conditions, sample morphology, and capacitive behavior are described. Thin-film electrodeposits of RuO2 on graphite demonstrated specific capacitance in excess of 250 F/g.